This is a critical study of the 'happy ending' in classical and
contemporary Hollywood cinema. The Hollywood 'happy ending' has
long been considered among the most famous and standardised
features in the whole of narrative filmmaking. Yet, while
ceaselessly invoked, this notorious device has received barely any
detailed attention from the field of film studies. This book is
thus the first in-depth examination of one of the most overused and
under-analysed concepts in discussions of popular cinema.
Concentrating especially on conclusions featuring an ultimate
romantic union - the final couple - this wide-ranging investigation
probes traditional associations between the 'happy ending' and
homogeneity, closure, 'unrealism', and ideological conservatism,
testing widespread assumptions against the evidence offered by a
range of classical and contemporary films. Breaking new critical
ground, this book encourages students and scholars of film to
reconsider some tenacious critical preconceptions, inviting them to
approach afresh their understandings of perhaps the most infamous
narrative convention in Hollywood cinema. It defines key features
of the Hollywood 'happy ending' through detailed textual analysis
and theoretical debate. It traces the historical development of the
scholarly approaches taken towards the cinematic 'happy ending'. It
reassesses the concept of cinematic closure and its relationship to
genre, ideology and 'unrealism'.
General
Imprint: |
Edinburgh University Press
|
Country of origin: |
United Kingdom |
Release date: |
November 2014 |
First published: |
December 2014 |
Authors: |
James MacDowell
|
Dimensions: |
234 x 156 x 13mm (L x W x T) |
Format: |
Paperback
|
Pages: |
224 |
ISBN-13: |
978-0-7486-9977-3 |
Categories: |
Books >
Arts & Architecture >
Performing arts >
Films, cinema >
General
|
LSN: |
0-7486-9977-5 |
Barcode: |
9780748699773 |
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